The first haircut hits a little different when you’re in first grade and well over seven years old. Getting a first haircut at age seven is a little like telling people you’ve never had ketchup. It’s kind of less an interesting fact and more a thing you’re avoiding for no reason. Maybe that metaphor works, maybe it
In the middle of all the snow and freezing temps we’ve been having lately, I couldn’t help but notice a balmy 45 degree day in the forecast. And this day happened to coincide with a 3-hour early dismissal from school for my kids. You better believe I circled and starred that day on my calendar.
Yesterday David took a Latin test he was particularly proud of, and last night after dinner (in the precious hour when the kids are hoping we won’t notice they haven’t done their table-clearing chores) he told me about it. This was a unique night in our house because I was laid up on the couch,
This is Cheaty (Cheety?) and Snow Leopard. Every morning they come to the bus stop with us. Stuffed animals aren’t allowed in school, so when Anna gets on the bus she shoves them into my hands and hugs me goodbye all in one sweet, frantic THE-BUS-IS-HERE! motion. As the bus pulls away, I hold Snow
Anna and I were talking about the week and my upcoming birthday, and she asked “Mom, what do you want for your birthday?” I responded with my most honest, genuine birthday request, “All I want for my birthday is for you kids to not fight for one day. That’s all I want.” Anna cut dubious
We’re watching the Olympics non-stop over here. I just love the Olympics and I cannot get enough of it, especially track and field. For my kids, during these Olympic games they get introduced to a lot of stuff. Namely, network TV commercials, and unabashed patriotism. GO TEAM USA!!! Tonight (which happens to be the day before Sydney’s
On the last day of school four sixth grade boys showed up at my house. They had grocery bags of ice cream and a separate bag with an ice cream scoop, spoons, and bowls just in case I wasn’t home and they had to enjoy their ice cream out on the deck. But they really hoped I
Anna got the “Outstanding Attitude Award” as her year-end award in her kindergarten class. When she got home from school she was so excited to tell me about it and to show me the friendship bracelet she got from her teacher. She loves school so much. There is not even a hint of the very
We were driving in the van one afternoon and “In Da Club” came on the radio. As always, I started singing along. “Go, go, go shawty It’s your birthday We gon’ party like it’s your birthday … You can find me in the club, bottles full of bub…” Mary interrupted my 2003 performance and asked,
The older my kids get, the more I find I really appreciate annual events. These annual markers — holidays, special events — are always the moments when I really see time passing. Otherwise it’s easy for the days to just run together, into a mush of homework, sandwich crusts, and the odd pajama day here